European Football

By Theo Ruizenaar

AMSTERDAM, March 16 (Reuters) - A hat-trick by Luis Suarez helped Ajax Amsterdam to cruise to a 4-1 home win over Willem II Tilburg and close in on leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league on Sunday.

PSV were held to a 1-1 draw at Roda JC Kerkrade. Jefferson Farfan put PSV ahead midway through the second half but three minutes into injury time Marcel Meeuwis salvaged a point for the hosts.

Frank Demouge opened the scoring for Tilburg after 18 minutes but 11 minutes later Klaas Jan Huntelaar equalised before Suarez's hat-trick sealed the win for Ajax.

PSV remain top with 60 points after 28 matches, four above Ajax. The two teams meet in Eindhoven on Wednesday.

Feyenoord, 4-1 winners against VVV Venlo on Saturday, are third with 54 points after 29 matches.

NEC Nijmegen scored three goals in the final 10 minutes to beat Sparta Rotterdam 4-2. Patrick Pothuizen scored twice and Youssef El Akchaoui once.

Marvin Emnes gave Sparta an early lead and restored the advantage after Kevin Bobson had equalised.

Mounir El Hamdaoui struck in injury time to earn AZ Alkmaar a point in a 2-2 draw at Utrecht.